Doing a 4 year degree in 3 years?

[Time]

Hi, I've searched for this topic here and found some answers pertaining to Honours degrees and acceptances to certain universities for med school. I understand that some require a "4 year degree", but I'm specifically looking to find out how feasible it is to do a 4 year degree in 3 years.

 

If it's not only possible but worthwhile to do this, does anyone know if you still have the equivalent of the 4 year/Honours degree required by some universities?

 

I can see going into an Honours program, applying in 3rd year and finishing the 4th year if unaccepted to med schools, but if an Honours degree can be completed in 3 years, you have a whole free year to utilize!

 

Thanks.

[Madz25]

The only way that I can think of for doing that is by taking 6 full year (or 12 half) courses/year and taking courses during the summers to complete all your credits.

 

I don't think it's worthwhile. That 1 year is not going to make any difference in the long run and you're not going to be able to enjoy your undergrad at all. Also, your time for ECs would be more limited. Once you enter med, you wont have as much free time so why waste it? Enjoy the little time that you have and do a 4 year degree in 4 years. Trust me, it's not worth going through all that pressure and it will NOT make any difference in the long run.

 

Just wondering, what you would use that free year for? (I assumed that you wanted to get into med a yr early)

[Jochi1543]

I agree with Madz, use your summers to build up your ECs and study for the MCAT.

[Time]

Thanks, I would've used the extra year for ECs, travel or work. I was also looking at Waterloo's very interesting biosci+economics/chartered accountancy programs, both take 5 years though. As much as one could gain from an extra year of undergrad, I'd have wanted to go for 3 years because by the time one actually becomes a doctor (normally) they'd be in their late 20's, then tack on more time for specialization and getting started - one free year sounds very nice then!

 

If you get into med school in your 3rd year of an Honours program then the unfinished degree seems like something to pick up later, meaning a potential other year spent just finishing after the fact.

 

I suppose applying in 3rd year, 4th year and the year after you've gotten your Bachelor's makes for 3 solid attempts though?

 

Does anyone know if McMaster's Health Sci. program is the only 3 year program along those lines in Canada?

[Madz25]

Well, med schools like to see that you can handle different responsibilities and demands on your time. It's probably better to build up your ECs while you're attending school rather than working ur a** off for school and then building up your ECs during your year off.

 

Also, if you choose to apply in order to get a year off, there's no guarantee that you'll be successful so your 1 year break may end up being longer than you planned.

 

Many students choose to take a year off after finishing a 4 yr degree as well.

[blinknoodle]

Does anyone know if McMaster's Health Sci. program is the only 3 year program along those lines in Canada?

 

McMaster doesn't have a 3 year BHSc(Hons) degree. They expect students to do a 4 year honours degree. However, if you get accepted into a graduate/professional program, you can graduate with a 3 year BHSc degree. Some universities don't grant 3 year degrees at all, so if you get in after 3 years, you get no degree at all.